Railroad-rail joint.



M. J. WIGHTMAN.

RAILROAD RAILJOINT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8. 1914.

1,237,593. Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

FIG. 4

WITNESSES: ZZKENTOR 0, 72%,

A TTORIVEY M. 1. WIGHTMAN. RAILROAD RAILJOINT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8. 1914.

1,237,593. Patent ed Aug; 21, 1917. w

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES: i Ill/VENTOH A TTORIVE Y M J. WiGHTMAN. RAILROAD RAILJOINT. 7 APPLICATION FILED APR. 8.1914.

Patented Aug. 21, 1917 1 4 HEET5-SHEET 3' MERLE lwmHrMAN, or SEATTLE, wAsHINGromAssIeNon 'ro RAILWAYS ACCES- seams co rPaNY, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, .A CORPORATION.

RAILROAD-RAIL JOINT.

Application filed April 8, 1914. Serial No. 830,325.

To all whom itmay concern: I

'Be it known that I, MERLE J. WIGHTMAN, citizen of the United States, residing at Se- .attle, in the countypf King and State of Washington, hage invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Railroad-Rail Joints, of which the; following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements inv railroad rail-joints, and the object of my im provement is to provide rail-joints whereby the ,abutting ends of adjacent rails may be rigidly secured together and be maintained in exact alinement with respect to the line of the top surfaces'of the heads of such rails irrespective of any differences in, di-

'.mensions that may exist between one and the ,other of such abutting rails with respera to vertical dimensions of their heads, the' -ilistances between their heads and their bases,

J and the distances between'the bottom of their bases and the top surfaces of their heads.

cross-sectional view on broken line 2., t, of

Another object of my improvement is to provide. rail-joints whose parts are sim lein construction, durable, easily installe and readily replaced by new parts.

A I attain these objects by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig ure 1 1s a View of one form of my inventlori in cross-sectional elevation onbroken line 9, g of Fig. 2, while Fig. 2 is aview of the same-in side elevation and Fig. 3 is a view of the same in perspective; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View in elevation of another form 35' of my invention on broken line r, 1' of Fig. 5. A perspective of the same is shown in side elevation by said Fig. 5; Fig. 6-is a cross-sectional view in elevation of another form of my invention on broken line .9, s of Fig. 7; Fig.8 is a perspective view of the same, and Fig. 9 is a perspective of a detail thereof. V I

Another modification of my invention as adapted to a girder type of rail is shown .by Figs. 10 and 11; Fig. 10 being a vertical Fig.1l, .while Fig. 11 is a viewof same in "side elevation.

Another modification of In invention is shownin Figs/-12 anti-13; Fig. 12 being. a

View in vertical cross-section on broken line u,'u o'f.Fi g.'-13, while Fig. 13 is a view of Patented Aug. 21, 1912'.

same in side elevation and Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are views in perspective of details of the same.

Another modification of my invention is shown in Figs. 17 and 18; 17 being a view in-vertical cross-section on broken line 1), o of Fig. 18, while a view in side elevation is shown in said Fig. 18. Another modification of my invention is shown in Figs. 19 and 20; Fig. 19 being a view in cross-section on broken line w w of Fig. 20, while Fig. 20 is a View in side elevation.

Another modification of my invention is shown in Figs. 21 and 22; Fig. 21 being a view in cross-section on broken line ac, m of'F-lg. 22, while Fig. 22 1s a view 1n side Like' reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings,-30, 30

indicate the abutting ends of two rails of conventional form. On opposite sides of the abutting end portions of said rails, as more clearly shown in cross-section in' Fig. 1, splice bars 31, 32 are disposed in engagement with the under surfaces of the heads and the upper surfaces of the flanges thereof and secured in such position by bolts 33, 33. Midway of its length, each of the splice bars 31, 32 is slotted upwardly from its lower edge to a point near its upper edge as at 34, to permit it easily to twist to allow in dependent adjustment of the pressure of either end thereof. against the upwardly inclined surface of the flange of its respective rail, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3. Two truss members 35, 36 are held in position by the gripping lugs 37, 38 and the bolts 39, 3 The set screw 40, in threaded, engagepinging against one of the pressure plates 42, 42 may operate to raise and lower either rail in its relation to the other, to obtain perfect surface alinement of the top surfaces of the heads thereof.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I show a modification of the form of my invention wherein the func-. tion of the set screws 40, 41 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is accomplished by the upwardly projecting flange portions 43, 43 oftruss mem' bers 44, 44, when pressed together by the bolts 45, 45, each of which may be adjusted independently of the other. The bolts 46, 46 serve to clamp the truss members 44, 44 in position. l j

In Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, I show another modification of this form of my invention whereinthe function of the set screws 40, 41 of Figs. 1, 2 and'S, is accomplished by the wedges 48, 48, which are adjustably secured by the bolts 49, 49. The form of wedges 48 and 48 is particularly shown in Fig. 9. v

Figs. 10 and 11 show a modification of my invention adapted for use with a girder type of rail, wherein specially formed splice bars, as bars 50, 51, are disposed on oppo-- site sides of the abutting rail-ends to lie within the space adjacent to the web thereof. About midway between the top and bottom of each of the said splice bars is an. inwardly projecting horizontal lug 52 andan outwardly projecting lug 53. Engaging with the upper surface of the lug 53 of either splice bar and with the under surfaces of the heads of the rails, on each side thereof, are clamping members 54, 54 which are held in position by the'bolts 56, 56. Similarly the clamping members 55,;55 engage the lower surface of the lug 53, on

. each side of the rails, and impinge against the upper inclined surfaces of the base flanges thereof where they are adjustably secured by bolts 57, 57. By tightening or loosening the said bolts 56, 56, and 57, 57, it will be obvious that either rail may be raised or lowered in its relation to the other rail whereby perfect top surface alinement is secured and maintained. I

In Figs. 12 to 16 I show another form of my invention wherein the splice bars 58 and, 59 are each disposed in independent engagement with the under surface of the end portion of the head of one rail and the upper,

surface of the .base flange of the abutting end portion of an adjacent rail, the descripare identical with parts on the opposite side.

The splice bar 58 engages by the upper edge of one end portion the under surface of the head of one rail and the lower edge of the other end portion the upper surface of the flange of the other rail, while the converse ap lies to the position of the splice bar 59. At the central or crossing point, one of the bars, shown in the drawing at 58, is arched to cross over the other bar 59, as more clearly shown in Figs. 14 and 15.

The said splice bars 58 and 59 are held in this construction that the other rail can be raised or lowered relative to the fixed rail, by adjusting the position of the splice bars 58 and 59in respect to their proximityto the web of said rail. This relative adjust: ment is determined and fixed by means of the stud bolts 62 and 63, after which the two I splice' bars. are forced home by means of the bolts 61, 61, the clamps 60, 6O equalizing the pressure of the bolts upon both' splice bars.

By this means absolutely perfect alin'ement of the running surface of the rails is made possible regardless of any differences that may exist in the vertical dimensions of said rail. This means also accomplishes a perfect fitting of the splice bars to both of the rails, at the extreme or abutting ends thereof, regardless of anyditferences in the vertical dimensions of their webs.

I show in Figs. 17 and 18a further variawherein the function of the-adjustable, stud bolts 62 and 63 of Figs. 12 and13, is accomplished by providing bothofthe splice bars 58 and 59 with independent clamping bolts,

cent to the rail junction, for the reason that adjustments to compensate for the usual minor differences in rail sections are re quired only at or near such rail-junction, where any discrepancy in the sizes of the rails would prevent the firm seating of the plates against either one rail or the other. The flexibility of the splice bars permits of a firm seating and takes care of any relative vertical adjustment of rails at or near the outer; extremities of the said splice bars.

In this form the relative vertical adjustment; of rails is accomplished by forcing either the top or the bottom splice bar, on one of the joining rails, toa seating against the said rail in advance of the other splice memes It is obvious that a further adjustment of the other rail could be similarly; accomplished, therebyobtaining perfect surface alinement of rails regardless of any difierences in vertical dimensions-usually found in practice.

in Figs. 19 and go "I show still another modification of the form of my invention shown in Figs. 12 and 13. in this form, the two independently adjustable splice bars 58 and 59 of said Figs 12 and 18, are replaced by asingle splice bar 68 provided with two diagonal slots or saw-cuts 69 and 70. It will be seen that by taking advantage'of the elasticity of a splice bar so formed, either the top or the bottom edge of either half of the splice bar could be cooperatively or independently forced further inward toward. the web of a rail; and thus, through the relatively earlier engagement of such edge with the inclined surface of the header the flange of such rail, force spch rail upward or downward with relation to the other rail. 1 accomplish this by means of the studs or set screws 71, 72, 73, and 74:, which operate, as in the case of Figs. 12 and 13, to limit the movement of certain ortions of said splice bar toward the rail we while other portions are being forced home and firmly set by the main bolts 7 5, 75.

In Figs. 21 to 24, inclusive, I show another modification of my invention wherein the splice bar 76 is slotted vertically for a short distance at 7'7 and horizontally for a much longer distance at 7 8 to permit the upper section or lip 79 thereof to be moved to and from the lower portion of said splice bar 7 6. The upper section or lip 79 is maintained in fixed adjustment by means of one or more tapered stud bolts 80 in threaded engagement with the lip 79 and main portion of splice bar '16. It will be seen that the stud bolts 80 by determining the relative height of the lip 79 from the main portion of the splice bar, make possible the adjustable off setting of the top surface of the splice bar, to compensate for any mmor differences that may occur in the heads of the abutting nails. Such adjustment having been made, the main bolts 81, 81, 81 and 82 serve to secure firmly the splice bar 76 in place in the usual manner.

While this form of my invention m1ght be employed for adjusting the vertical position of both rails, in these figures I have shown a difierent method of adjustment as applied to the adjoining rail. My reason for this is that when one rail is adjustable in its relation to the other rail, both upwardly and downwardly, it is only necessary to provide means for insuring the permabent, positive or integral attachment to the other rail of that portion of the splice bar engaging the non-adjustable rail.

To this end, I employ a clamping memher 83, held or forced into engagement with the splice bar 76 and the upper inclined surface of the rail flange. The proper engagement of said clamping member 83 with the splice bar 76 is accomplished by means of a suitable groove 84: cut into said splice bar, 7 6 as more clearly shown in the cross-sectional View in Fig. 23. v f

It will be seen that the compressional force of bolt 82 operates, through the .wedgingaction of clamping member 83, to forcethe rail downward and therefore into intimate contact with the upper surface of "the splice bar 76. v I i I In Fig. 25 I show a form of my invention adapted to a boltless type of joint, which is one of the types set forth in myco-pending application for United States patent filed, by me November 25, 1913, Serial No. 802,952. In the 'boltless type as fully described in my said co-pending application the pressure 7 between the under surfaces of the heads of the abutting rails and the upper edge of the splice bar, is at all times equalized by means of a central lateral pressure produced bya supporting base-plate operating in a wedging relationship with said splice bar.

Referring to said Fig. 25 the splice bar 85 is slotted downwardly from its upper edge, midway of its length, as at 86 and provided with a tapered opening 87, 87 extending each side of said slot 86- at the lower end thereof.

Within the opening 87 is forced a double ended wedge 88, adapted to be driven for adjustment from a normal central position toward either end of said opening, to force one or the other of the upper sections or lips 89 and 90 of the splice bar 85 upwardly, and the other downwardly, thereby producing an ofiset relationship thereof against the under surfaces of the heads of the joined rails, and an offset relationship of the said under surfaces of the said heads to compensate for minor'difi'erences in the vertical dimensions thereof, in order to produce exact surface alinement of the rails.

This particular form of my invention mig ght be applicable to any type of splice the difierent parts of a structure embodying my invention may bemodified to suit difierent conditions of service without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a rail joint, the'combination of two a'butting rail/end portions; fish plates disposed one oneach side thereof to engage the said rail ends, and independent wedging means associated with each of said rails for forcing an intimate contact between the under surfaces of both rail heads and the upper edges of the fish plate.

2. In a rail joint, the combination of two abutting rail end portions, fish plates disposed one on each side thereof to engage the said rail ends, and wedging means, associated with one of said rails, for forein an intimate contact between the under sur aces of said rails head and the upper edges of the fish plates.

3. In a rail joint, the combination of two abutting rail end portions, fish plates disposed one on each side thereof to engage the said rail ends, a pair of clamping members oppositely disposed to press inwardly against each of the said fish plates and wedgingly between each of said fish plates and one of said rails, and track bolts to hold the said fish plates in engagement with the rails and to compress the said clamping members. 4. In a rail joint, the combination of two abutting rail end portions, fish plates disposed one on each slde thereof to engage the said rail ends, means for producing a variable offset in the top surface of each of said fish plates, and independent wedging means associated with one of said rails, for forcing an intimate contact between the under surfaces of said rails head and the upper edges of the fish plates.

, 5. In a rail joint, the combination of two abutting rail end portions and fish plate members disposed on either side thereof to engage the said rail ends, each of the said fish plate members being provided with an independent wedging portion for each rail whereby to frce an intimate contact be tween the under surfaces of both rail heads and the upper bearing surfaces of the fish plate members.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this seventeenth day of March,

MERLE J. WIGHTMAN. Witnesses:

L. E. MEACHAM, F. O. MATHENY. 

